Fruit-gatherer.



J. W. PAHNESTOGK.

FRUIT GATHERER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.20.1908.

925,885; Patented June 22, 1909.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. w. FAHNESTOOK.

FRUIT GATHERER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.29,1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WNW/manor I %e, $2M

JOHN W. FAHNESTOOK, OF EAST GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FRUIT-GATHERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Application filed December 29, 1908. Serial No. 469,743.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. FAIINESTOCK, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at East Greensburg, in the county of Westmorelandand State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements inFruit-Gatherers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit gatherers, and one of the principalobjects of the same is to provide simple and eflicient means to preventthe fruit from falling to the ground after it has been picked by thefingers of the picker.

Another obj set of the invention is to provide means for readilydischarging the contents of the box or container for the fruit after ithas been picked.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit picker made in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the head of thepicker. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view,showing the manner of adjusting the guard and spout in elevation. Fig. 5is a detail sectional view, showing the means for adjusting the combinedguard and spout.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the handle of theimplement, said handle being provided with a cross bar 2 at its upperend. A series of picking fingers 3 project at right angles from thecross bar 2. The handle 1 near its upper end is provided with a recess 4to accommodate a plate 5 through which the screw bolts 6 for connectingthe box or receiver 7 pass. The box 7 is provided with a bottom 8, aback wall 9 and the two sides which are curled inwardly at 10 around theouter finger 3 of the picker. To hold the box or container in positionthe bolts 6 have nuts 11 applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawing. The box or container 7 is provided with oppositely disposedvertical slots 12, said slots having angular branches 13 at their upperends.

The combined guard and discharge spout comprises the two sides 14 andthe bottom 15 which connects the two sides. A bolt 16 extends throughthe slot 12 and through one of the sides 14 of the guard and spout,while at the opposite side a similar bolt 17 extends through the slot 12and is provided with a winged nut 18 for holding the guard and spout inadjusted position.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the guard is adjusted asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will prevent the fruit fromdropping out of the container 7, and that when the guard is adjusted, asshown in Fig. 4, the container may be readily discharged of itscontents. The guard 14 may be adjusted to form a discharge chute fordischarging the fruit into barrels or bags, if so desired.

I claim 2- 1. A fruit picker comprising a handle, a series of fingersextending outward from the handle, a box or container secured to thehandle and to the fingers, and a combined guard and spout adjustablyconnected to the container.

2. A fruit picker comprising a handle, a series of fingers extendingoutward from the handle, a container for the fruit, said container beingsecured to the handle and connected to the side fingers by bending themetal of the container over said fingers, and a guard and spoutadjustably connected to the container.

3. A fruit picker comprising a handle, a series of fingers projectingfrom the handle, a box or container, means for securing the same to thehandle and to the fingers, and a guard and spout adjustably connected tothe sides of the container by means of slots formed in the sides of thecontainer, and a threaded bolt and winged nut for holding the guard inadjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WV. FAI-INESTOOK.

Witnesses:

R. W. AMALoNe, A. STRASLICKA.

